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Scarred by a recent smallpox outbreak, and suffocated by a long-brewing family feud and an ever-tightening Puritan grip, Salem Village in the early 1690s was a powder keg. When this already-tense atmosphere was stoked by an incident in which three residents were accused of bewitching two young girls, it quickly spiraled into one of the most notorious cases of mass hysteria in American history, which saw over 200 individuals accused, 30 convicted, and at least 25 dead. Fueled by religious extremism, xenophobia, misogyny, economic upheaval, and petty revenge, what followed was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of colonial North America— the Salem Witch Trials.
Learn more about the Salem Witch Trials by browsing our curated digital exhibits below, or by viewing the full Salem Witch Trials Papers digital collection.
Exhibits
After its founding in 1629, the Massachusetts Bay Colony recorded various cases of witchcraft, the punishment of which was death.
Early Witches & Accusers
On January 20, 1698, Samuel Parris discovered his daughter and niece both acting erratically.
Nearly six months passed between the incident with Samuel Parris and Abigail Williams on January 20 and the beginning of formal prosecutions on June 2.
The Salem Witch Trials are perhaps most recalled for the loss of innocent lives left in their wake.
The effects of the Salem Witch Trials rippled across the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
History: Memory of the Salem Witch Trials
While Salem wished to leave the Witch Trials in its past, accounts of the Trials were immediately in high demand.
Race & Gender in the Salem Witch Trials
Despite the many white, male victims of the Trials, it was primarily women and people of color who endured the brunt of Salem’s wrath.
Explore the full collection.
